Father Geek here, just back from a 6 hour round trip (road-time) locked in the cab of an un-air-conditioned 24 foot UHAUL truck with LOBO and Kublakhan to the town of BEEVILLE on the hot and humid South Texas coastal plains to score a ton (literally) of DVD stuff for SisterSatan's soon to be greatly expanded South Congress video store PEDAZO CHUNK... and what is the lead-story that I have to post first thing back in Austin for Scott's regular column this week... FLOWERS & BEES! Weird! Especially since the native wild flowers were in full bloom the whole trip, (sometimes blanketing fields as far as the eye could see) annnnnnd we had a pollen laden little hitch-hiking bee up front in the truck with us for about 2 hours of the journey. "Catch the bug Grandpaw... Catch the Bug!" Kublakhan (age 3 1/2) repeated over and over for 100 miles that seemed like a thousand...

I'm off in a truck (a 17 footer) again today... a much shorter effort in more ways than one... this one to San Antonio and back hauling 30 boxes of very vintage Art Glass to Austin for my mother (age 80) who's moving up here in early June to be closer to her grandkids (Harry and his sister), annnnnd little Kublakhan (her great-grandson). My traveling companion on this trip will be the ever lovely Dorthy Parker, sometimes writer on this site...

Well, enough of Father Geek's blue-collar oddessy, here's what you really came here to read...

AnimAICN...

by Scott Green

Manga Spotlight: Flowers & Bees Volumes 2 & 3 By Moyoco Anno

Released by Viz's Editor's Choice Line

Of the titles in the ever more crowded manga market, Flowers & Bees is one of the most deserving of more attention. Moyoco Anno, better known for her twenty-something marriage chase Happy Mania, turns her savage whit and crackling illustration to a teen sex comedy. The result is bit of an R rate, and better populated, Love Hina. Few comedies, manga or otherwise are this outrageous, mean, and undeniably fun.

Flowers & Bees follows Komatsu, a teen loser, who in search of relationship of upward mobility subjects himself to the wills of the sadistic women beauticians Kiyoko and Harumi. In these volumes the pair show up for mile marker appearances to torment Komatsu into the next level, ie strapping him down and tricking him into thinking he lost his virginity, but generally the stories are Komatsu fumbling through his own odyssey.

The first volume of Flowers & Bees focused on fashion to a degree to that series seemed a perfect fit with the current reality tv fueled make-over zeitgeist, but in its progression the preening has evolved into a aspect of the series' map of the self-flagellation paved path for happiness (where happiness is defined as landing the member of the opposite sex with the highest social standing).

It would take a heart to stone not to laugh at Komatsu's pain as his beautician would be mentors lead him through the steps of the social torture chamber.

The embarrassment never gets as acute as the first volume's classic paid date, but Komatsu's pseudo-deflowering, or beating at the hand of the class chorus of kogals (a loud, over tanned chicks), or being far outpaced in the path of self transformation by his initially hideous friend Yamada wrench the thumb screws as far as they'll go.

Moyoco Anno doesn't attempt to lead her readers into caring about her characters (though they aren't as repulsive as Happy Mania's), but she provoke an intense compulsion to see what will happen to them next. Between physical attractiveness twisted beyond its breaking point, masochism confused with self improvement and almost a little genuine likability, there is something compelling about all the characters, even it is just to see how they will suffer next. There is no investment in seeing who Komatsu will end up with, but there is always a rewarding surprise seeing what mine field he'll walk into next. Even though Konatsu and his circle of social contacts aren't the people an average person would want to befriend, they are the perfect across the wrong distraction. Anno aims to, and succeeds wildly in creating the ultimate voyeuristic experience. It's the sensationalism and spontaneity of reality TV, with the design of the well constructed sitcom.

Teen males chasing sexual experience tend to be male orient, and at least a little misogynistic. Here, women almost always in control of the situation, and it is more of a outsider looking in view of male urges. Moyoco Anno knows how to balance her relationship equations. Komatsu's love interests are slightly more sympatric than he is, but they keep pace with his mental self mutilation.

One consistent highlight, is Hiromi, a geeky, shy, "nice", but willing and able play men, and not as sweet or sentimental as her character type is supposed to be.

Viz does an excellent job in keeping pace with Moyoco Anno in the work. The adaptation has everything a fans of translated manga would want, translated sound effects, reproduced chapter illustrations, margin cultural footnotes and an excellent transation. The dialog maitains the energy and pop culture cadence needed to maintain the humor through its adaptation.

Given the bruhaha that already cropped up a few times concerning Ken Akamatsu's tame T&A (Love Hina and Negima), it would probably be ill advised saying that Flowers & Bees is a teen work, despite the fact that it is abundantly clear that teens would relate best to it. Sex, and fairly detailed sex at that, is a tool that Moyoco Anno isn't afraid to use to dramatic or comedic effect. It isn't flagrant for the purpose of titillation, but it often intentionally shocking, and absent or moral baggage.

Anime Preview: Wolf's Rain Volume 1: Leader of the Pack

released by Bandai Entertainment June 22nd Based on episodes 1-3, Release to feature episodes 1-5

Wolf's Rain has a justifiable reputation as the follow-up to the wildly appealing Cowboy Bebop. It reunites many of the people behind the Bebop's TV series, movie, or both, including director Tensai Okamura, a script by Keiko Nobumoto, and music by Yoko Kanno, and it has the same aura that readies you to be wowed.

Like Cowboy Bebop, Wolf's Rain leverages a familiar library of genres, but rather than Bebop's jazz riff, Wolf's Rain is more of a symphonic arrangement of distinct themes. In place of scattered short stories is a orchestrated narrative with Peter and the Wolf emphasizes.

Set in a post-Ragnarock-looking world, where the final remnants of man and nature try to go about their lives while holding their breaths, waiting for the gust of window that will collapse the remainder. On the world's fringe are its few remaining wolves, a species believed to be gone extinct a hundred years ago. The remaining wolves are creatures who don't follow human recognized laws of existence and masking their shape to walk among man, as one character says "don't look for wolves, suspect humans".

The first several episodes quickly introduce a large array of characters. Though Wolf's Rain has shown itself to be deceptive about the importance of given characters, those who seem to be key are four wolves: proud and wild Kiba, Spike Spiegel like trickster Hige, young and lost Toboe, and urban corrupted warrior Tsume, along with the humans Lee Van Cleef like sheriff and wolf hunter Quent, and a Mulder and Skully like pair of ex spouses, investigator Hubb Lebowski and scientist Cher Degre.

The four wolves form a union of convenience and set out to find paradise. In some sense they are a recognizable fiction-fabricated pack: lead, antagonist, sidekick, runt, but the shades of the characters aren't even conducive to extended contact with each other or well worn patterns of interaction. In addition to diametrically different upbringings their personalities aren't even adversarial complements. Each is meant to be the hero of their own story, and together, there a high potential drama, and little telegraphed as to what shape the interaction will take.

Tensai Okamura, a director for parts of the Cowboy Bebop movie proves to be brilliant director in Wolf's Rain. From a complex night train robbery to nature captured in falling snow, running wolves and crows, the detail and imagination breaths life into Cowboy Bebop designer's Toshihiro Kawamoto work, producing an experience that new, even in the context of anime.

While it is difficult to think of a stronger introduction to an anime series than the first three episodes, the series is haunted by a reputation that Studio BONES had trouble producing the series. There's evidence that work load, and possibly a laundry list of proposed contributing factors adversely effected the series production, chiefly evidenced by four consecutively recap episodes told from the perspective of the four wolves. How the issues effect its reception in the domestic release remains to be seen, but given the quality of its opening, few series seem as worthy of a chance to prove themselves.

Wolf's Rain has already broken from anime status quo. Like an accomplished fighter, it hasn't hinted at it next move. It has established a set of engaging characters, across a lush stage, but even to the trained eyes of an anime over-watcher it hasn't revealed where it will take them.

Manga Spotlight Comic Party: Party Time

Released by CPM Manga

Originally based on a dating game intriguingly set in the world of fan comics, Comic Party has become one the confusingly dispersed properties on the domestic. While not quite the hydra of Digi Charat, the series is scattered is so far scattered with "Party Time" at CPM, another manga series released by TOKYOPOP and the anime at Right Stuf.

"Party Time" is a look at the development of independent comics aka doujinshi in turn produced by a round robin of doujinshi creators (domestically released doujinshi is rare_. In this collection, the franchise's team of doujinshi decides that the team will create a yaoi (homosexual male romance) for the Comic Party expo.

The collection is more procedural that other entries in the franchise to have been released domestically. It is an eye opening look at the team effort to produced fan comics, most of which bound to be familiar to people who have worked on various fan projects (zine , websites or the like). The surprising aspects of the process probably come in that even a domestic audience who is aware of the doujinshi probably doesn't think too much about it (to that extent, there is some question as to how innately interesting doujinshi is to a domestic audience). It is a little strange to think how contrary to a perceived "indie" ethic in runs, not just an industry of amateur fan produced products, but that group editors would hold sway of their non- employed subordinates to an abusive degree (cult of personality), and choose subject matter based on popularity.

"Party Time" has less romantic or potentially romantic relationship humor than other Comic Party incarnation. The jokes partially play to exaggerated (hopefully they are exaggerations) aspects of the process ie a guy make a nude video of himself for pose reference. These jokes are augments by character humor, based on playing the frequent franchise players against type, which is somewhat problematic for the collection as stand alone since it assumes a knowledge of the participants.

The volume's illustration showcases the skill of a number of amateur manga talents. While competent and appealing, there are few examples of impressive visual story telling or design, not that the Comic Party character design or circumstance lend themselves to either. Several do twist the style's status quo, often with successful results.

It is questionable whether this Comic Party is likely to appeal to readers with no interest in doujinishi. While not exclusive, it is inside baseball material and narrowly focused. There are some compelling personalities and conversations, but the Party Time does little to sell manga creation as an inherently interesting process.

This Week's Releases

Anime

• Dragon Ball Z:Cell Games:Games Begin
• Hello Kitty Sanrio World:Fairy Tale
• Key The Metal Idol:Complete Collection
• Kino's Journey - Warning Curves Ahead (Vol. 3)
• Mahoromatic Automatic Maiden - Summer Special
• Nadia, The Secret Of Blue Water - Collection 1 (Vols. 1-5 + 2 Cd Soundtracks)
• Saint Seiya Vol 6
• Robotech Remastered - Volume 3 Extended Edition
• Soul Hunter - Complete Collection
• Speed Racer - Episodes 12-23
• Steam Detective:Case 6
• Samurai Trilogy Box Set - Criterion Collection
• Zatoichi The Blind Swordsman, Vol. 12 - Zatoichi And The Chess Expert
• Zatoichi The Blind Swordsman, Vol. 13 - Zatoichi's Vengeance
• Zatoichi The Blind Swordsman, Vol. 15 - Zatoichi's Cane Sword

Manga

• Ai Love You Vol 3 Gn (Of 8)
• Angel Sanctuary Vol 2
• Battle Vixens Vol 2 Gn (Of 6)
• Bow Wow Wata Volume 2
• Candidate For Goddess Vol 2 Gn (Of 5)
• Comic Party Vol 1 Gn (Of 3)
• Crayon Shinchan Gn #8
• Digimon Tamers Vol 2 Gn (Of 5)
• Fist Of North Star Master Ed Vol 9 Gn
• Five Star Stories Eng Lang Manga #19
• Five Star Stories Eng Lang Manga #20
• Four Constables Vol 2 Tp
• Fruits Basket Vol 3 Gn (Of 11)
• Get Backers Vol 3 Gn (Of 23)
• Initial D Vol 12 Gn (Of 26)
• Maison Ikkoku Vol 5 Tp 2Nd Ed
• Mink Vol 2 Gn (Of 6) $9.99
• Nausicaa Of Valley Of Wind Vol 4 Tp 2Nd Ed
• Oh My Goddess Vol 18 Phantom Racer Tp
• One Vol 2 Gn (Of 11)
• Planetes Vol 3 Gn (Of 3)
• Rave Master Vol 9 Gn (Of 21)
• Rebound Vol 8 Gn (Of 11)
• Red Prowling Devil Gn #8
• Remote Vol 1 Gn (Of 6)
• Ring Vol 2 Tp
• Tuxedo Gin Vol 6 Tp
• World Of Narue Book 1 Gn

Agatha Christie Anime Update

Natsume Maya reports TV anime "Agatha Christie no Meitantei Poirot to Marple" (Agatha Christie's Great Detectives Poirot and Marple) will commence broadcast on NHK on July 4th 2004 at 7.30pm.

Manga Entertainment's New Parent

IDT Entertainment has not announced the acquisition of Manga Entertainment, a domestic licensor, and translator of anime (and not Japanese comics, known as manga). While it had been known that Palm Pictures was no longer Manga Entertainment's parent company, the new owner announced. Manga titles will be distributed through IDT's Anchor Bay subsidiary.

The press release also announced IDT Entertainment is in the early stages of production on two proprietary CG animated feature films, Gene Roddenberry's Starpoint Academy and a feature yet to be named, directed by Christopher Reeve.

In other IDT news, ComicsContinuum reports IDT Entertainment and Todd McFarlane Productions have announced an agreement to develop a number of properties, including a new Spawn animated series.

In addition to Spawn, McFarlane swill create two additional animated properties.

Ghost in the Shell stand Alone Complex Game Release Bandai will be releasing the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex in domestically this November.

Game Images

From Magic Box

Shaman King: Power of Spirit, a Pkaystation 2 fighting game to be released in the US later this year, can be seen here

Blood Will Tell: Osamu Tezuka's Dororo, a Playstation 2 game based on a manga series from the Asto Boy creator to be released this fan can be seen here

A Cowboy Bebop game, to be released for the Playstation 2 domestically this October can be seen here

Planet Exiles has E3 trailers of Cowboy Bebop, Inuyasha: The Secret of the Cursed Mac, and Gundam Seed: Battle Assault here

ADV ACen Announcements

ADV announced at the Anime Central anime convention that they have licensed the Peacemaker Kurogane anime, Full metal Panic Fumoofu, and an uncut version of the original Gatchaman, to be released on bilingual DVDs.

Peacemaker Kurogane wll be released starting this fall. No release dates were announced for Full Metal Panic Fumoofu or Gatchaman.

About Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu... Get ready for the second thrilling installation of Full Metal Panic! Deftly combining mecha combat, martial arts, international criminal intrigue and high school politics with a dash of teen romance on the side, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu returns to the world established in the first best-selling series. This time Sergeant Sousuke has taken a break from the military to go back to high school, but can this battle- scarred veteran put aside his soldier-like instincts and be a regular high school kid? Hysterical antics and chaos ensue as Sousuke and Ms. Chidori turn the halls of higher education into a war zone!

About Peacemaker... This action-packed film is beautifully animated by the talented team at Gonzo Digimation (Final Fantasy: Unlimited and Full Metal Panic!). Fans of Samurai X are sure to enjoy Peacemaker when they notice the heroic similarities between the two main characters.

Tetsunosuke Ichimura had always been a runt, the smallest, weakest kid in his village, but after seeing his parents murdered by a dangerous and evil assassin, Tetsunoke vows to become strong enough to avenge his parents' deaths. Now, at only 15 years of age, he has made up his mind to join the army in order to gain that strength... but what he doesn't know is that the army he's chosen isn't a normal army at all! Now a frightening choice awaits him; to achieve his revenge, will Tetsunosuke be willing to forsake his very humanity for demonic powers? The roads to vengeance and hell may be one and the same in Peacemaker.

About Gatchaman... The timeless classic that spawned the hit series' G-Force and Battle of the Planets, Gatchaman is the action-filled story of Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, five young heroes who must come together to defend Earth from the threat of Galactor, an international terrorist group fronted by a mysterious outer space being, and its army of mechanized menaces! Skilled in the art of ninjitsu, and equipped with special weapons, powers and the amazing spacecraft, the Phoenix, the Gatchaman team joins with the International Scientific Organization (ISO) to battle both deteriorating conditions across the Earth and the evil Galactor's attempts to conquer the entire planet. The all time classic series comes to North America uncut and uncensored for the first time in Gatchaman!

From Anime News Network's convention report ADV is the fourth largest home video distributor in North America (after MGM, Warner, and Sony). The total market size (not just ADV) is currently $4.2 billion, of which $500 million is home video sales. The current circulation of Newtype USA is over 100,000, and the Anime Network currently has over ten million subscribers. 18 volumes of manga were released in 2003, and over 250 are scheduled to be released throughout 2004.

The Mutineer's Moon anime TV series will run for 26 episodes and will be broadcast in Japan and the USA.

The RahXephon The Movie will be available in a limited edition with a booklet and box.

Currently, no theatrical releases are planned for any feature films ADV holds the rights to, however this may change with future acquisition announcements. Regarding the Neon Genesis Evangelion live- action movie, a rough draft exists and the search for a director is now underway.

Bubblegum Crisis 2041 is in "development hell." Work is being done on re-assembling the staff from BGC 2040, however they are currently divided between other projects.

Geneon ACen Announcements

Geneon announced at the Anime Central anime convention tat the company has licensed Burn Up Scramble, Cybuster, Saiyuki Reload and Lunar Legend: Tsukihime.

From Anime News Network's convention report:

Tsukihime is a vampire relationship drama based on a dating simulation game. It will be released starting in October.

Burn Up: Scramble is a new entry in the women cop Burn Up franchise. Burn Up: Scramble and Cybuster will be released starting in November

Because of contractual obligations and other factors, Geneon will not be using the voice actors from the original Saiyuki series, currently being released by ADV Films.

Volume lengths for upcoming series include:

• Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~ : 3 volumes
• Burn Up: Scramble: 3 volumes
• Cybuster: 6 volumes
• Demon Lord Dante: 4 volumes
• Dokkoider: 4 volumes
• Fighting Spirit: "quite a few" volumes, each containing four or five episodes"
• Fushigi Yuugi: 8 volumes, six or seven episodes per volume, $24.95 MSRP
• Gadguard: 7 volumes
• Gungrave: 7 volumes
• Ikkitosen: 4 volumes
• R.O.D The TV: 7 volumes
• Requiem from the Darkness: 4 volumes
• Stellvia: 8 volumes
• Tsukihime: 3 volumes

Kaleido Star Website

ADV has launched a website for circus anime Kaleido Star here

Manga Release Numbers

ICV has calculated that American manga publishers are planning to issue over 1,000 English language manga volumes in 2004. The pace of manga publishing has picked up as we enter the spring and summer season and should reach a crescendo by the fall.

Tokyopop VP_Sales Steve Kleckner confirmed that the company plans on releasing around 450 volumes in 2004. Viz VP-Marketing Liza Coppola told ICv2 that Viz will release around 350 manga volumes this year. ADV's projected total of 115 for this year. Other manga publishers include Dark Horse, Digital Manga, Central Park Media, Broccoli Books, Del Rey, Cocoro, Ironcat and ibooks .

TOKYOPOP TV Ad

Newsarama has posted TOKYOPOP's TV advirsting which promotes Sgt. Frog, Psychic Academy, and Saiyuki Volume 3 on MTV, Cartoon Network, Spike TV, G4, and Tech TV can be seen online here

Tokyopop's ads will appear 75 times a week on channels with high viewership among the 18-34 year old demographic.

Linkin Park Anime Style Video and Manga

VH1.com" and Anime News Network reports the upcoming Linkin Park for "Breaking the Habit" from Meteora album, will be composed entirely of anime-style animation, with a "mini-music- manga" tie-in from TOKYOPOP.

Direct DJ Joseph Hahn worked with Production IG (Kill Bill) to animate a concert scenes based on an LA performance.

Inu Yasha tops in Canada

Anime News Network points out Inu Yasha was the most searched for term on their search engine in Canada in April 2004. Inu Yasha was also the 3rd most popular searched for term in Canada in all of 2003. .

Full Metal Achlmestic Dates

Anime on DVD's FUNimation Anime Central convention report indicates that Full Metal Alchemestic will air on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim starting in October, and be released on DVD start in January.

Live Action Cream Lemon?

Natsume Maya reports Cream Lemon, one of the first hentai (adult pornographic) anime titles has been adapted into a live action movie, to be released this fall. The script by Mukai Kousuke and Yamashita Atsuhiro, directed by Yamashita Atsuhiro.

Del Rey Manga Launch Successful

Icv2 reports the Del Rey manga line, which just launched with four titles, has debuted strong, scoring the top two and four out of the top twelve slots on the Nielsen Bookscan graphic novel bestseller list for the week ending May 2nd. Tsubasa, by CLAMP, was #1; Negima, by Ken Akamatsu, was #2; xxxHOLiC, by CLAMP, was #6; and Gundam SEED, by Masatsugu Iwase, was #12.

The Del Rey manga titles also did well on the Bookscan over-all trade paperback bestseller list, with three in the top 50 (#20, #28, and #45).

Tsubasa was at #5 on the Waldenbooks trade paperback bestseller list, the highest ranking ever for a manga title, and Negima was #10.

CLAMP 15th Anniversary Update

Natsume Maya reports the website for manga creation team CLAMP's (CardCaptor Sakura, Chobits) commenterative CLAMP no Kiseki has been updated with icons of the 12 issue production.

Japanese Release Start

From Natsume Maya The website for the fourth season of Galaxy Angel, set to start July 7th is online here

Samurai 7, the Gonzo animated sci-fi update on Akira Kurosawa's classic, will commence broadcast on 12 June 2004 on a Skyperfect TV pay per view channel.

Animax has now announced the broadcast schedule for this 26 episode series: two episodes every two or three weeks -

• 12 June 2004: episodes 1 and 2
• 10 July 2004: episodes 3 and 4
• 24 July 2004: episodes 5 and 6
• 14 August 2004: episodes 7and 8
• 28 August 2004: episodes 9 and 10
• 11 September 2004: episodes 11 and 12
• 25 September 2004: episodes 12 and 13
• 9 October 2004: episodes 14 and 15
• 23 October 2004: episodes 16 and 17
• 13 November 2004: episodes 18 and 19
• 27 November 2004: episodes 20 and 21
• 11 December 2004: episodes 22 and 23
• 25 December 2004: episodes 24 and 25

At the GAiNAX 20th anniversary event on May 5th, it was announced that the first stage of the anime Neppuu Kairiku Bushilord will be the production of a "short version" to be directed by Yamaga Hiroyuki.

Production IG has announced that Dead Leaves will be released on DVD on 24 July 2004. The main disc is 52 minutes long (main feature, trailer(s), voice commentary by staff), but the DVD will also come with a supplementary disc with 120 minutes of extras (clips from four events, clip of post-recording, Remix Dead Leaves by VJ, a "Chinko Drill Interview"(?), staff discussion, illustration gallery, etc). DVD will be double layer with DTS and Dolby Digital sound. There'll be a regular edition catalogue number DA-0359, price 6,090 yen (including tax) and a limited edition (3,000 sets) Special Box Set. Catalogue number for the Special Box Set is DA-0371, price 8,190 yen (including tax). On top of the two discs mentioned above, it'll come with two Kubrick figures and special booklet.

Animeigo Anime Central News

From Anime on DVD's forum Anime Central convention report, AnimEigo plans to release AD Police on DVD in September, and the 7th Urusei Yatsura in October. The re- release of Bubblegum Crisis is planning for November, and should feature omake (extras).

All of Urusei Yatsura is schedule to be released by summer 2005.

It was mentioned that AnimEigo started as an anime company, and though they still focus on anime, they have moved on to samurai films. The company will also be releasing Battlebots on DVD.

TOKYOPOP Talks Courtney Love Manga

Newsarama has posted a talk with TOKYOPOP about their upcoming release of Princess Ai, a manga series by Courtney Love here

Media Blasters September Release

Media Blasters' Anime Works line will release the following titles this September:

URDA: Third Reich 1943, Nazi Germany.

Unsatisfied with the speed of his conquest, the Fuhrer initiates the URDA project. Receiving intelligence of an operation to tamper with the very course of history itself, the allies send Elena Kurtz deep into enemy territory. A battle-hardened master commando and deadly fighter, Elena's only match is Glimhild Kurtz, the URDA project's commander. Elena struggles to stop the Nazis and rescue the primary test subject of URDA - a young girl who claims to be from the future. What she encounters is something more difficult to avoid than Glimhild and the Nazi war machine: her own future. A full 3D CG feature...designed and written by Romanov Higa.

1 disc, 5 episodes, 30 mins. (1 volume of 1) English/Japanese Dialogue with English subtitles

Sentimental Journey

Twelve stories of romance and unrequited love, Sentimental Journey is the story of twelve girls that have left love in their past. As each of them tries to cope with their daily struggles they are constantly reminded of what they have lost. Based on the popular video game series Sentimental Graffiti, Sentimental Journey is a series that shoujo anime fans have been waiting for!

2 discs, 12 episodes (the complete series in one set!), 300 mins. (1 volume of 1) Japanese Dialogue with English subtitles

NaNa 7of 7 - A Test of Love (Vol.2 Eps 6-10)

1 disc, 5 episodes, 125 mins., English/Japanese language dialogue - English subtitles

Knight Hunters Eternity - Troubled Souls (Vol.2 Eps 6-9)

1 disc, 4 episodes, 100 mins. English/Japanese Dialogue with English subtitles

Early Reins

The good, the bad, and the drop-dead gorgeous.

A revolver holds six deadly bullets. Likewise, the train en route to Sunshine Hill holds six very deadly women. Margaret is the daughter of a once famous gun-slingin' sheriff, and Caroline is a strong young gal forced to fend for herself. Helen is a bold saloon singer, and Janette is a caring doctor. Alice is as wealthy as she is deadly, and Lola leads the bunch with her dead-eye aim. On this particular day, they find themselves on a train escorting a man named Spencer through the frontier territories. Among his many enemies ride a fearsome gang of notorious bandits. They're fixin' to take his head along with the train's cache of gold, but that won't happen if these pretty pistoleras have their say!

1 disc, 1 episode, 45 mins. English/Japanese Dialogue with English subtitles

From the adult Kitty label, but of interest to anime fans:

Kite Special Edition

Sawa may seem innocent and naïve, but don't be fooled. She's a cold- blooded killer, and if you're on the wrong side of the law, you may be her next target. Not content to just watch the imperfect justice system free more criminals each day, a detective trains Sawa to be his instrument of justice. Now she will go to any length to execute her targets. Now for the first time in any release, completely uncut with all-new interviews and extras.

1 disc, 2 episodes, 60 mins. English/Japanese Dialogue with English subtitles

AnimeWorks Publications manga release include:

Kamunagara: Rebirth of the Demonslayer

Story and Art by Hajime Yamamura

Kugaya is a teenager who lives with his aunt, Sakuri. The kendo coach at his high school, Narugami, has been after him to join the kendo team; but when he meets the new girl, Takemi, his life takes a supernatural turn and he is thrust into an epic battle with the demonic "Intruders". Reincarnation, buried memories, the Holy Sword, "Himuka"...and the Clan of the Swordsmen... it's all too much for a high school student to bear!

1 book, 200 pages, Japanese style right to left format 5" X 7.375"

Live Action Tokyo Shock releases include

Deadly Outlaw - Rekka

Yakuza-versus-Yakuza apocalyptic crime saga spectacle from international cult director TAKASHI MIIKE (Audition, Ichi the Killer). Stars: Riki Takeuchi (Fudoh, Dead or Alive) J.J Sonny Chiba (Kill Bill, Samurai Reincarnation) Tetsurô Tanba (Story of Rikki- Oh)

1 disc, a film approx. 96 mins. Japanese Dialogue with English subtitles

GoJoe: Spirit War Chronicle

Stars: Tadanobu Asano (Ichi the Killer, Zatoichi 2003) Masatoshi Nagase (Pistol Opera, Suicide Club)

A lavishly produced, special effects-filled, super-charged samurai fantasy bringing to the screen one of Japan's most popular feudal legends.

Members of a warrior clan are being mysteriously beheaded at Gojoe Bridge. A former Buddhist monk and his grave robbing sidekick set out to unmask and destroy the powerful evil forces that lurk at Gojoe.

1 disc, a film, 137 mins. Japanese Dialogue with English subtitles

TOKYOPOP Hires for Further Foray Into Film & Television

TOKYOPOP has announced the hire of René García, former Wes Craven Production Prez with over 20 years of production and development experience as Film & Television, to lead plans theatrical adaptations of its manga.

"Manga's kinetic storytelling style and ever-increasing popularity put TOKYOPOP at the vanguard of a revolution in the entertainment industry," said García. "I can't imagine a cooler assignment than helping to bring the power of this character-driven art form to the screen."

NewType Subscriber Poll

NewType USA website is polling subscribers to the anime periodical to determine whether, to maintain the product's quality, readers would be more willing to accept a hike in the cover price to $13.00 or less packaged extras such as posters and sampler DVDs

Geneon Licenses Submarine 707R

Anime on DVD reports Geneon's new release of Heat Guy J volume 6 features a trailer for the show Submarine 707R, a title that the company had new previously announced as license.